Match book



Nov. 20, 1956 c, CARTER I 2,771,183

MATCH BOOK Filed May 19, 1955 Eugene 0. Carter INVENTOR.

United States Patent MATCH BOOK Eugene C. Carter, Lamar, S. C.

Application May 19, 1955, Serial No. 509,538

1 Claim. (Cl. 206--34) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in match books and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an article of this character comprising a novel construction and arrangement of parts whereby the detached matches will be automatically ignited as they are withdrawn from the package.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a match book of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple in construction, compact, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the deails of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a match book constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in longitudinal section through the match book, taken substantially on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a portion of one of the match cards;

Figure 4 is a view in longitudinal section through a modification; and

Figure 5 is a view in longitudinal section through another modification.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, and to Figures 1, 2 and 3 thereof in particular, it will be seen that reference character 5 designates generally the cover of the package. The cover 5, which includes a back 6, is formed from a single length or strip of suitable material having one end portion folded transversely on itself, as at 7, to provide a relatively short front 8. The other end portion of the cover strip is folded transversely on itself, as at 9, to provide a closure flap the free end portion of which is insertable under the corresponding end portion of the front 8. The free end portion of the front 8 is provided, on its inner side, with a transversely extending friction or igniting strip or surface 11. The back 6 of the cover 5 is provided, at an intermediate point and in opposed relation to the friction surface 11, with a similar friction surface 12.

The cover 5 is for the reception of match cards 13 of suitable material. The match cards 13 have one end portion folded outwardly and reversely upon themselves, as at 14, and stapled at 15 between the front and back 8 and 6, respectively, adjacent the fold 7.

Longitudinal slits 16 in the cards 13 provide detachable matches 17. The slits 16 extend from the folded end portions of the cards 13 to the free ends thereof. Elongated igniting heads 18 are provided on the outer faces of the matches 17 adjacent to but spaced from the folded ends of the cards 13. At a point between the heads 18 and the stapled ends of the cards 13, the

2,771,183 Patented Nov. 20, 1956 matches 17 are provided on their opposite faces with staggered, transversely extending cuts or incisions 19 to facilitate detachment of said matches by a predetermined longitudinal pull thereon. The incisions 19 extend approximately half-way through the thickness of the matches 17.

It is thought that the use of the match book will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the book is held in one hand with the thumb and fingers engaged with the front 8 and the back 6 of the cover 5. The flap 10 is opened with the other hand and one of the matches 17 is selected. A straight longitudinal pull is exerted on the selected match for detaching same at the weakened portion provided by the incisions 19. As the detached match is withdrawn from the package the head 18 on one face thereof traverses the adjacent friction surface 11 or 12 and is ignited thereby in an obvious manner. The reversely folded end portions 14 of the cards 13 provide ample space in the cover 5 for the match heads 18 in addition to strengthening or reinforcing the stapled ends of said cards. Of course, the cover 5, also the matches 17, may carry any desired advertising or other matter.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing, the reverse folds on the stapled ends of the match cards 13 are omitted and the front and back 8 and 6, respectively, of the cover 5 are outwardly angulated or bulged, as at 20, to accommodate the heads 18 of the matches 17. In other respects, this form of the invention is substantially similar to the embodiment of Figure 2 of the drawing.

In the modification of Figure 5 of the drawing, the reversely folded end portion 14 is omitted only from the inner or back card 13 and, therefore, only the back 6 of the cover 5 is outwardly bulged or angulated, as at 21, to accommodate the adjacent match heads 18. Then, the free end portions of the back matches project beyond corresponding ends of the front matches, as at 22, to facilitate selection and detachment.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A match book of the character described comprising: a cover comprising an elongated strip having its end portions folded transversely on itself to provide a back, a front and a closure flap engageable on the said front, match cards mounted in the cover and including outwardly and reversely folded end portions anchored between the front and the back, said cards having longitudinal slits therein extending to the free ends thereof defining flat faced detachable matches, said matches having transversely extending, longitudinally staggered incisions in the opposite faces thereof adjacent the anchored ends of the cards, igniting heads adjacent one end on the outer faces only of the matches, and friction surfaces on the opposed faces of the front and back engageable by the heads for igniting same as the matches are withdrawn from the cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,818,507 Rose Aug. 11, 1931 1,907,313 Arana May 2, 1933 1,912,957 Whitlock June 6, 1933 

